How to Become an Exercise Physiologist
Prescribe exercise as medicine: build fitness programs that rebuild cardiovascular health, strength, and mobility. It typically requires a bachelor's degree, with a median salary of $59,460 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$59,460/yr
Middle half
$49,620 to $67,230
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
1,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Exercise Prescription
- Fitness Assessment
- Cardiac Rehab Basics
- Motivation
- Monitoring
Helpful certifications
- ACSM-EP (Certified Exercise Physiologist)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
74/100
Stress level
49/100
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an Exercise Physiologist make?
The median pay for an Exercise Physiologist is $59,460 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $49,620 and $67,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Exercise Physiologist?
The usual entry point is a bachelor's degree. Common majors are Kinesiology / Exercise Science, Exercise Science, Health Sciences, Kinesiology, Athletic Training, and Physical Education and Coaching.
Is Exercise Physiologist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Exercise Physiologist use most?
Common skills for this role are Exercise Prescription, Fitness Assessment, Cardiac Rehab Basics, Motivation, and Monitoring.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).